Mary had revealed that she was a Link 3 Eidolon Hunter. Even though I am seeing her before me with her weapon drawn and only moments before saw her in combat, I still cannot quite believe this.
Though, I suppose I am getting distracted here. The more pressing concern still is the lurking Eidolon Superbia-06-4-114 and now Avaritia-03-5-057 as well. The latter seems more immobile and 'stupid', so I wouldn't want to put my concerns towards it, but 'Ferrous Sovereign'; it is a frightening beast. Not just a Rank 4 Eidolon, but a smart one.
"Hey, Revenant. What was he like?"
"Painful. I'm lucky to have my Yurei call, but otherwise I don't see myself hurting it. Spiritual Energy is going to be challenging to ration."
"What is the issue with him?"
"Think really hard about this one. What powers of Ferrous Sovereign could be problematic for us?"
Ferrous Sovereign is a pride Eidolon of domain 06. Uh, what was that again? I look into my Eidolon Register and look through the list. Oh, 06 stands for magnetism.
"Oh shit."
"Yep, that guy is a tough nut to crack when you can't hold your weapons properly and he can wield two odachi as if they were made out of cardboard."
"I thought he would be slow considering odachi are two-handed swords."
"No… unfortunately not. He likes one-on-one duels, so I can see why he has yet to be beaten."
"What are our odds?"
"With Mary they are better, but… I am low on spiritual energy and injured, you look like you haven't slept in a week, and Mary just spent a good chunk of her own spiritual energy reserve to save you. Besides, all our weapons are made of magnetic steel."
I look towards Mary.
"What are your thoughts?"
"We should come back in one or two days; this one isn't running away for the time being. I personally suggest that we look for more allies as well; this is very risky otherwise."
"I have gotten to know a few people. I think I might be able to get Lis on board."
"What I would suggest is that we all invite the people we know. I have hosted tea parties in the past, believe it or not. I think it would be great for multiple reasons. I could invite some people I know, and Nathan, you can invite 'Lis' or others; as for Revenant…"
"No. You aren't getting me to invite my contacts."
Revenant's face all of a sudden turned more serious, and his voice sounded more like a command. Personally, this is odd. I've noticed him having to talk to some people already; besides, Calypso and Elizabeth weren't… that bad.
"What is the problem with asking them?"
"I could ask them, although they would reject immediately. Except maybe like one or two of them…"
"Then ask only them?"
Revenant sighed.
"It isn't that simple."
"I hate to play this card, but it would really help if you communicated with us properly."
His expression further soured at my response, staring at me with all three of his crimson eyes before then resigning.
"Let's get out of here first, then I'll contact all of them."
"How many contacts in the Eidolon hunting business do you actually have?"
"Over a dozen different groups of hunters, excluding you and Mary."
My eyes widened in shock slightly at the mention, but I suppose he has been in this business quite a while. With the goal set, I look at my own map to try and plot a way out of here, but Mary taps me on the shoulder as she speaks an incantation.
"Your map is cute, but incantations are better."
You should've told me that you have a path-finding incantation somewhat sooner as well. I am really sick of being surprised right now.
"What else can you even do with your incantations?"
"Many things. Are you curious perhaps? I could show you~"
"Could you wait until we're out of here for games?" Revenant butts in.
I can understand her wanting to be secret, but her then teasing me for not knowing what she can do is where I draw the line. Is this what is being called 'rage bait'?
With the assistance of Mary, I and Revenant follow her on a very direct route towards the 'Altus Opus' entrance. It was surprisingly fast, and it followed an unsurprisingly small number of Revenant's markings.
Along the way there were no further incidents with Eidolon of any sort, or any incidents of any kind for that matter.
We arrive at the abandoned metro tunnel just as a train whizzes by. Well, the station might be abandoned, but not the rails. The stairs leading out of the tunnel look even worse for wear now, parts of which are now covered with viscera. Still we ascend this flight of stairs, just to end up behind the police tape now.
An officer at the metro entrance, who is currently eating a burrito, spots us immediately and points away, outside of this area.
"Spiritual Corrosion?" Asks Revenant.
The policeman just nods. We then silently step over, or crawl under, the tape to leave the area. This will make things more annoying; we now cannot enter the 'Altus Opus' this way anymore.
Revenant quickly waves goodbye as he finds the nearest alley to skulk through. Mary reciprocates the motion and then also leaves towards what I believe is her house.
I am left alone here, but that's alright. For now I should probably make a plan of action. There are three things I would want to get done. Finding Elizabeth somehow, probably getting a smartphone finally, and also visiting Sylphara.
Looking for Elizabeth can already start right now, as my first guess would have been this CNC manufacturing plant. I walk up to one of the other police officers to inquire about her.
"Hello, officer, would you happen to have seen a friend of mine? They wear lolita fashion and go by the name 'Elizabeth Amelia Lazuli'. You see, she is an Eidolon Hunter, so I suspect that she could be here."
"Yes, she is currently inside."
The officer looks at their wristwatch.
"Has a maximum of 12 minutes left. After that we will send a rescue team."
"Is this Spiritual Corrosion really that serious?"
"Yep, it is serious enough as is already. Some gang was shaking down this place for some spare Levan and Gael and the CNC company called security. The problem was Ferrous Sovereign showing up and sowing chaos. I wouldn't know how an Eidolon would be capable of it lacking speech, but it managed to manipulate a conflict of both sides. Near the end it swooped in to cull the victors."
"I feel like a commotion like that would be heard."
"Usually."
"Usually it would', but Eidolon', right?"
"Yup. Silent like the dead. The result is one of the worst Spiritual Corruption cases in weeks, maybe months. Many experienced hunters of up to Link 5 died there."
"So what difference would one body make? I mean, is it worth possibly losing an entire rescue squad?"
"It isn't my decision. I feel kind of sorry for those rescue teams. All I know is that this incident is likened to a barrel close to overflowing. Dunno what would happen should it overflow, but that is why we aren't allowing anyone below Link 3 in there, even with correct paperwork."
"Far as I heard in the news, this incident already is a bit older."
"Currently the government is waiting on a sort of 'kill squad'. A team of half a dozen Link 6 to 7 hunters to erase this place from the face of the earth."
"It couldn't possibly be this serious, could it?"
"I know about as much as you do."
As we are having a casual discussion about the ever-nebulous actions of the government, someone decided to add themselves to our conversation.
"Whatchu talking about?"
That soft-spoken voice is quite familiar, and as I look to my side, my suspicion is confirmed. It's Elizabeth.
"Hey Lis, supposedly the government plans to send half a dozen Link 6 to 7 hunters here at some point."
"Hmm, it makes sense. The miasma alone almost cost me my life. It was worth almost dying for though; I was finally able to see an egg."
"An egg?"
"Mhm~ Eidolon would probably know more about them than I do. I only read about them in a book some time ago. Something about them being the harbingers of apocalypse. Oh, mister officer over there. Could you kindly inform your higher-ups in my stead about this sighting?"
"Uh, sure."
She then took me by my hand again and dragged me towards the side.
"Please, don't."
"Ah, sorry…"
A bit dejected, but she let go of my hand, and I followed her for a moment.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"I and my Eidolon hunting group are planning a tea party to discuss Ferrous Sovereign over. I don't think that we can take him on otherwise."
"I love tea parties! You can count on me to show up~"
"That's great."
"Not right now though, I am on my way to get my Link re-evaluated. Care to join me? As far as I remember, you don't have a Link yet."
"Uh, sure. Although, I was planning on getting a smartphone first."
"I believe I saw one on the way here. We can take a detour."
Just like that we were going through the sunset streets. Whilst walking, Elizabeth decides to hook her arm around mine instead of holding my hand. I'm actually fine with that; it doesn't feel like I am sinning this way.
It actually does surprise me now that I notice it. Elizabeth is wearing a dress in winter; god, that must be cold, and I don't think she can fix that with an Eidolon, since the touch of her arm is icy. As long as she doesn't show discomfort, it's fine, yet it should limit her combat abilities at the very least, right?
"How was your trip to the Altus Opus?"
"It was… um… complicated."
"That's a funny way to say that it wasn't according to your expectations. Honestly, I want to head to the other parts beside the Delta at some point myself, but I'm not ready for it. I know that better than ever now after this adventure."
"Yeah, what is the Spiritual Corruption like?"
"Hehe, I'm lucky."
"What kind of answer is that?"
"Well, I told you about 'Blood Leech', right?"
"Yes, 'Gula-00-6-099' was it?"
"Indeed, you're pretty smart~ I suppose that is to be expected of someone so well-read as you. Since that Eidolon influences me fully, I get to bypass the scariest parts of Spiritual Corrosion. It also helps that all my equipment is either Sin or Eidolon Equipment."
"Then what was that miasma you mentioned?"
"This one is actually quite hard to describe. Well done on picking such a good question. Good boy~"
"Never. Never say that again. You literally just broke me."
She chuckles half-maniacally, half-humorously. Then she whispers into my ears in an especially soft and teasing tone.
"You like being a good boy, don't you~"
Aaah! This bitch is driving me crazy. I- I just don't have the balls to tease her back; I'm going to be fully honest here. I'm feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.
Elizabeth couldn't hold her laughter back any longer, clearly enjoying the effects her words had on me. What makes this worse is that I know that this is just for fun. Due to her Eidolon, she doesn't even know the implications of her own words. You know what? I just thought of something.
"You're awfully bold for a virgin."
"Please, me? A virgin?"
She is playing it cool, but I can see the cogs in her head spinning overtime. She doesn't know what love is, but she still knows what being a virgin is. The issue she currently is facing is trying to figure out the contextual meaning of being a virgin.
"Well, it seems to me like you're not satisfied with your sexual life either."
I will kill her! How is a person incapable of understanding love so good at fucking with me?
"Is it because you're small?"
"No, fuck you, I'm 6.5 inches." (~16cm)
The only response I get is laughter. What is there to laugh at? Oh… Because she doesn't completely understand the meaning behind these words, this is just a game to her. I think she really is just winding me up at this point.
Luckily, we arrive at the mobile store shortly after and head inside.
There are many models of phones, though most look like unreliable pieces of electronic waste. I had an internship at an electronics repair shop before, so I can tell how badly smartphones are constructed nowadays. I think it was called planned obsolescence?
Skimming through the various models further, I only spot old phone models that seem reliable enough. Then I spot it: a new phone with the label of 'Sephey Pro Max 14 plus', which I suspect might be a mistake of the company given that the phone battery lifespan is more than four years longer than the other phones here.
Ah, it's a knockoff brand; that makes more sense now. Still, the other parts of the system don't seem bad, and buying off-brand will save me money. Wow, only 1 Phalite instead of 1.3 Phalite. This price is absolutely absurd, even for a smartphone. Like one year ago, I could buy a pretty good laptop with that money.
In the end it doesn't matter too much. I buy the phone anyways. It doesn't matter that it costs about four times the amount of all the Sin Equipment I own.
Elizabeth sneaks up behind me again and takes the phone from my hand after I finish the setup like a 60-year-old grandpa.
"I'm sorry for before; you're just too easy to tease. Here, I'll give you my number in return. And I'll also put in a good word for you."
After my phone is returned to me, I see that she already reconfigured most of the phone. Most of the bloatware has somehow vanished (is she a wizard or something? Bloatware is, like, immortal usually), she added her number, and she changed the wallpaper to a selfie of her with me. Wait, what? When did she take that? Looking at the background, it seems that she was abusing her silent step. Still, I swear I'm not that oblivious.
Whilst I'm busy I might as well add Mary's number, which she had graciously given me in the past. It doesn't sit with me right to only have other women's phone numbers on my phone. A problem for later, let me make a mental note… no, a digital note would be better.
Impatient, Elizabeth drags me out of the mobile store towards the next location. She hands me a couple macarons.
"You know, we will have to go to the Link examination in tip-top shape, or would you rather be rated a Link 1?"
I take the macarons. Red, green, and brown. The same as last time. As she previously said, the testing facility was en route, so by the time I finished eating, we had already arrived.
Inside, the building had a very sci-fi aesthetic going, and there were two receptionists working through a queue of people.
"There is only one facility for every three to four districts within the Gamma Echelon Zone, so there are queues at times, but they go by quickly."
We got to the front desk in less than four minutes. Honestly, I am amazed at how efficient this is. Official governmental institutions and efficiency are like water and oil. You usually go through half an hour of waiting, just to find out that they actually can't help you here.
"Good evening, how may I be of assistance?"
"Both of us are here for a Link evaluation. She already has one; I don't."
"I will need your ID then in addition to any Eidolon or Sin Equipment you wish to carry with you."
"I have the Eidolon 'Avaritia-09-2-022', and here are my Sin Equipment plus ID."
He quickly glances over all of the items, then takes out a weird device resembling a magnifying glass and needle combo, pokes the items with it, and then just compares the ID with my face.
"All set. Mister Verren, please head over there towards chamber 8."
I walk through the door he pointed to and pass through the corridor until reaching a door labeled with a big eight. Inside was a teenage worker on their phone and a virtual reality setup. Not like one of those goggle ones, but a mocap 1 one with a special rig. It uses some sort of Sin Equipment powers to keep a person in place even as they move around the virtual environment.
1 Motion capture suit
I stepped in and put on the various straps required for this device.
"Since you are being tested for the first time, can I assume that you will perform below the level of a Link 5?"
"Uh, yeah. I think I might be around Link 2 or 3."
"Alright buddy, then have fun. Just as a heads up, this goes until you 'die', and the pain is simulated to be realistic."
Personally, that warning seemed like a formality for them not to be sued or something rather than actual care for me. The teen left the room after hitting a switch and closed the door.
This was my first out-of-body experience.
It felt as if my mind and soul were expelled from my body, and I had to just observe my own body moving in fast forward whilst fighting against various foes. It begins with civilians, then it's Link 1 hunters with basic weapons, then corrupted individuals with Sin Equipment, then a low-rank and simple Eidolon; so far so good; then things step up.
Next is an encounter with the Spiritual Corrosion, I believe. Due to the fast-moving time, I can't make it out quite right; however, I believe that they are appropriate to their description. 'I' at first tried to use ordinary weapons that just phased through before relying on my Sin- and Eidolon Equipment. The next wave was a return of 'Denied Beauty', but this time alone. Then came a group of Link 2 hunters. This is where I first got hurt, and it wasn't nice. The pain wasn't accelerated, but the rate at which I sustain injuries is expedited. These hunters each had two Sin Equipment and one incantation each.
Through the murders I managed to heal with 'Judge Gauntlet' before the next wave. This time it was three Link 2 hunters again, but this time they had two or three incantations, and each of them held a unique Eidolon Equipment. This was a really painful one, but I saw 'myself' succeed just barely by healing from each kill just in time to regain enough vitality to continue the fight.
The next wave was my last. It was a rematch against the Spiritual Corrosion, but something was off. My vision was blurry and clouded. There were glowing spheres of different colors dancing around like fairy lights or fireflies. They were one of seven colors, though each of these colors looked 'swampy' in a way. Together with them was this mist. I couldn't breathe anymore, my eyes watered, my body wanted to throw up my organs, and I felt an immense amount of dread.
I didn't even engage the enemy before the scene faded, the lights glowing red.
"The simulation was cut short due to safety concerns."
A robotic voice reverberated through my head as I was still kneeling on the floor. My eyes swam from tears, and I coughed up blood. It took about half a minute for me to recover.
I then spotted the teen again, who whistled.
"Wow, well done. I didn't expect you to make it all the way to the miasma. I was scared that you would make it all the way to the 'Absolution' waves for a moment. If you had figured out how to live the miasma, then there really was a non-zero chance for that to happen."
"What are you even talking about? That was the miasma? Like what happened at the CNC manufacturing plant?"
"Is there a case of miasma nearby? Huh, you learn something new every day. Well anyways, your preliminary results are in."
"Preliminary?"
"Well, this measure is based solely on how far you made it into the simulation. You will find a letter in your mail then based on the confirmed results in a few days or so. It really is just formalities though. They have no basis of suspicion for lowering you to Link 2, and similarly you are required to get past the miasma to enter Link 4, so you are set in stone for Link 3."
"Ah, actually I am currently living with a friend for convenience, so could the letter be sent there instead?"
This guy gives the most genuine 'intern shrug' that I have seen in my life, so I can really only hope. I stepped out of the testing room and went back to the lobby, sitting down onto the uncomfortable lobby benches, waiting for Elizabeth.
It takes about half an hour for this, but eventually she does appear in all her glory.
"It seems I had to go to their special testing facility in case I would be as strong as a Link 5, so there weren't any time alterations."
"Did you make it to Link 5?"
"Maybe? I was told that I was Link 4, but there is a small chance that I get boosted up to Link 5 since I got really close to it. Lost on the last wave."
"I made it to Link 3, which is pretty good. Was that the miasma?"
"Oh, you got all the way to there? Wow, that is pretty cool. And yes, that is what the miasma feels like; I can attest to that myself now that I've been in it."
"Yeah, I had no chance of winning there. This smoke is a whole other story."
"It sure is. Unfortunately I can't help you with it."
This test took less time than anticipated, but still it turned pretty late. Considering that Apollo and Sylphara are in the Delta Echelon Zone, even though it is somewhat on the way, I don't think I could take the detour. Doesn't matter much. With Mary and Revenant, I think there will be enough participants for the tea party.
"Well, Lis, do you want to head to the tea party then?"
"No."
"Wh-what?"
"I want to treat us both to some churros and hot chocolate as a reward first~"
Sure, why not? We do still have some little time left, and I suppose it would feel nice to reward ourselves for our new Link promotions. I still feel like there is a chasm between me and Elizabeth in terms of skill, in spite of the fact that we only stand one Link apart. Actually, maybe two, but I think I and Lis both know that she won't get placed there, because if I were to compare Elizabeth or Revenant to Calypso, then there would be another chasm in-between.
Actually, between Link 0 through 2, the gaps are pretty marginal. The gap between 2 and 3 is noticeable though. This is because of what the Link represent; an exponential increase in strength, which is also why there has never been a Link 8 before. Still though, it does feel a little silly. The gap between Link 0 and 1 is so minuscule, it requires someone to only pick up a weapon and cave another guy's skull in to cross it.
Elizabeth had again hooked her arm to mine as we strolled up to a winter snack stand. By now the snowfall had begun again. I and Elizabeth are just standing on opposite sides of a standing table with a plate of churros and two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
This would feel pretty romantic under normal circumstances, but we both bring a severe element to the table that makes this feel extremely awkward for us both. It is the kind of 'no offense to you, really, but I cannot see you as more than a friend' moment. Well, I think I might be able to get back at Mary by recounting the events I had with Lis.
I really can't pinpoint the deal with Elizabeth's behavior. It could be innocence, it could also be friendship, or it could just be business friendliness from her. A part of me thinks that she is a little too kind and that it is just a moment before she invites me into a cult. Another theory is that she is just out for my blood, literally. She mentioned the taste of my blood to be good, and I suspect the opposite to be true for Revenant. I wouldn't know why though.
Either way, the awkwardness is blended out by the serene beauty of this moment. The clean streets of Gamma, the warm but dim lighting of the streetlamps and the shack in the night, the gentle sprinkle of snow onto our hands and noses, the warmth of the hot chocolate spreading through our bodies with each sip, and also just the simple companionship we share.
…
I expected an Eidolon or some corrupted hooligan to appear out of nowhere to disturb this moment, but no, this time I was allowed this moment of peace and quiet.
Maybe half an hour I spent here, savoring the drink and snack along with the scene itself. Originally I wanted to hurry in and out within 10 minutes or less. I might just run late for the tea party, but I don't care; this was worth it.